Johnstown Road, Walton Parkway will be used for High Street detours

One lane will remain open during New Albany's reconstruction of High Street, but only in one direction, said city spokesman Scott McAfee.

McAfee said southbound traffic will be detoured and routed east at Walton Parkway to Johnstown Road.

Once that lane is complete, the northbound lane will close and traffic will be routed north on Johnstown Road and west on Walton Parkway to High Street.

The city was expected this week to begin reconstruction of High Street from Eagle's Villa Pizza north to Chatham Green Drive, adding street lights, street trees, sidewalks and ADA-compliant brick curbs.

The city will install a new turning lane at the south entrance to the New Albany 2-5 elementary and will add 8-foot parking lanes on both sides of High Street.

Sidewalks will be built on the east side of High Street, which requires the road alignment to shift west, McAfee said.

The $1.1-million project is being paid for with a $273,873 grant and an $826,017 loan from the Ohio Public Works Commission.

New Albany City Council agreed June 4 to authorize City Manager Joseph Stefanov to negotiate for additional work that will extend the road construction farther north than originally planned.

The extension and the burying of utility lines in the area are expected to add another $800,000 to the project, McAfee said.

The extension was included in the city's bid proposal.

Complete General Construction of Columbus was the only bidder. The city will pay the company $1,821,575 for the work.